Deep Roots, Old Trees, and a Life of Faith

posted on : February 1, 2021 posted by : kfindlay 0 Comment

There is a tree on Johns Island about 12 miles from the Ashley River in South Carolina that is said to be at least 400 years old. The Angel Oak. This Southern Live Oak stands about 65 feet high with a circumference of 25.5 feet, and its branches reach to shade over 17,000 square feet. Simply put —it is enormous.

What is just as huge? Angel Oak’s root system. Each oak tree has a taproot —a thick large straight root that originates directly beneath the tree’s trunk and digs deep into the ground. Lateral roots then spread out from the taproot, reaching as far as 90 feet from the trunk.

This immense root system allowed the Angel Oak to withstand hurricanes and droughts, earthquakes, floods, and even human interference. It is touted as one of the oldest trees and living things east of the Mississippi River. But for me, this tree is a symbol of faith.

A prayer for help

Years ago, I stood before this tree and marveled at its massiveness. My life had just started to settle after the turmoil of broken relationships, and I wondered if I would survive the fallout. Though I had followed Christ since I was a child, the storm of sorrow left my faith feeling thin and weak.

Lord, I need you. A simple prayer, it was often on my lips.

Covered in the shade of that old oak, a passage from Colossians drifted into my memory.

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
(Colossians 2:7, NLT)

I felt anything but strong as those words meandered their way across the terrain of loss and grief. Others’ words and opinions battered at my identity. Words offered as advice sliced my weary heart as I tried to determine who was right. Their words? My feelings? How could I sift through the unraveling and what people were saying to find what was true?

The Apostle Paul knew how easily swayed people could be by another’s idea or opinion. He wrote Colossians to challenge believers to not only stay connected to Jesus and “let their roots grow down into him,” but to recognize deceit from “well-crafted arguments” by man.

Can you relate?

You see, the Colossians had a problem —they allowed human ideas and experiences to intertwine with the teachings of Christ. The result? Heresy. Through the letter to the church, Paul reminded them of Christ’s deity —that he was fully God and fully man, “the head over every ruler and authority.” (Colossians 2:10)

He went on to clarify our problem —that we were dead in our sin until “God made us alive with Christ, forgiving all our sins.” (Colossians 2:13) Because God not only set the standard of holiness because of His holiness (1 Peter 1:16), He also determined the punishment required for sin: death (Romans 6:23).

But there is also the good news that Paul reminds us about —God saves sinners through His Son, Jesus. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, we have everything we need to live a life of faith (Colossians 2:10).

The beginning of change

Standing before the Angel Oak that day, I made a commitment to shifting my gaze from people so my eyes settled on my Savior.

I determined to dig into His Word for truth —about myself, my circumstances, and, most importantly, about God.

Reading Scripture sent me on a search of God’s character and works first, choosing to consider what His words might mean about Him before they were for me. I put God first.

I talked to Jesus about everything —the good, the bad, and the ugly (Philippians 4:6-7). I confessed sin that I kept hidden and experienced HIs grace and mercy in abundance (1 John 1:9). He reminded me through His Word that He already knew about it anyway (Psalm 139:1-6) and had already canceled the record on the cross (Colossians 2:14).

These past many years have not been easy, but they have been good as my roots reach for the Righteous One. I see evidence of growth and increase in my faith, not because of the work I have done but because of the grace and kindness of God through His Son, Jesus.

Call to Action

Take time this week to look up, read, pray and reflect on the following verses:

Colossians 2:6-15

Romans 6:23

1 Peter 1:16

Psalm 139:1-6

1 John 1:9

Philippians 4:6-7

Reflections

Where might you be believing what human thought and experience says as truth instead of what the Bible says is true?
How often do you read the Bible —do you read it looking for evidence of God first?
What do you believe about Jesus? How has He impacted your life?
What will it take for you to fully live out Colossians 2:7, letting your roots grow down into Jesus? Are you willing?

**This post was originally written for Centralia Community Church’s blog: Beyond Sunday. You can read another guest post about faith here.**